Promoter Bob Arum says he hasn’t given up on trying to put together a fight between Teofimo Lopez and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis for early 2025. He wants to stage the fight between Lopez and IBF welterweight champion Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Fight Arum Wants
If Ennis-Lopez is going to happen, Arum will need to make a big offer to encourage Boots and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, to accept it. Philadelphia is still focused on fighting a unification next against one of the champions at 147.
It’s got to be a nightmare for Hearn, who signed Ennis to a multi-fight contract in April earlier this year. He’s fought twice against David Avanesyan and Karen Chukhadzhian in low-level contests that failed to generate much interest.
Boots turned down a move up to 154 to challenge WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. on February 22nd, and he is also reportedly not interested in fighting Teofimo, even though it would make a lot of money.
“We’re still pursuing that fight. We’d love that fight to happen. Are people are talking with the Ennis people. We want to do as big a fight as possible for Teofimo after the beginning of the year,” said Bob Arum to Fight Hub TV, about wanting to set up a fight between Teofimo Lopez and IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis for early 2025.
“If it’s Ennis, the best place for that fight is Madison Square Garden. He’s so good, they don’t want to fight him [Teofimo]. We offered Haney the fight, and Haney didn’t want it. We’ll find a big fight for Teofimo. He’s a great talent and a great personality, and he’ll do very well at the box office and at the PPV.
“We’re all set. It’s up to the opponent and his people. I’m here in Saudi Arabia, so I’m not working on it, but the guys back home, Morrett and Jeremy are working on it every day. I like Telofimo because he’s a great talent, but it’s certainly a fight that’ll be close betting odds that will create a lot of interest,” said Arum about a match between Boots Ennis and Ortiz.
If Arum can’t make the Ennis-Ortiz fight, he’ll have to consider options for Teofimo becau. He hasn’t had an interesting match since his bout in 2020 against Vasily Lomachenko in 20
“Maybe Haney, but he doesn’t seem like he has a lot of interest in the fight, Haney,” said Arum when asked what is the biggest fight out there for Teofimo. “We’ll see when we get back. We’ll all meet and see what the best available guy is, and that’s who we’ll fight,” said Arum.
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